Our Top 10 Favourite Hedging Plants

Hedges are one of the most useful and versatile elements in a garden. Whether you need privacy from neighbours, a windbreak, structure for a landscape design or simply a beautiful green backdrop for year round appeal, the right hedge can transform your outdoor space. In Metro Vancouver and the broader Pacific Northwest, our mild winters and long growing season allow for a wide range of hedging plants to thrive. From fast growing evergreens to classic formal choices, there is a hedge for every style and function.

This guide highlights ten of the best hedging plants for our region, focusing on growth habits, strengths and ideal uses. Each option is well suited to Pacific Northwest conditions, and many have both traditional and modern varieties you can choose from. Use this list to help you determine which hedge will work best for your landscape goals, maintenance preferences and available space.

Thuja occidentalis Smaragd

Thuja Smaragd, also known as Emerald Cedar, is one of the most popular hedging plants in Metro Vancouver. It forms a narrow, upright column of bright evergreen foliage that stays neat and uniform without heavy trimming. This makes it ideal for both formal and informal hedges, especially in smaller yards where width is limited.

Smaragd grows slowly, typically reaching 10 to 15 feet over time, and maintains its rich green colour year round. It prefers full sun to light shade and well drained soil. Because of its tidy habit and low maintenance nature, it is a favourite choice for side yards, narrow spaces and modern landscape designs where clean lines are important.

Thuja plicata Excelsa

If you are looking for a fast growing privacy hedge, Thuja Excelsa is an outstanding choice. Excelsa is a cultivated form of Western Red Cedar, native to our region, so it thrives in Metro Vancouver’s climate. It grows quickly and develops a full, dense screen that offers excellent noise reduction and wind protection.

Excelsa can reach 20 to 30 feet if left untrimmed, but it responds well to shearing and can be maintained at your preferred height. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a range of soil types, including those with more moisture. This variety is perfect for creating large scale privacy hedges, property borders and natural screens with a Pacific Northwest look.

Pyramidalis, Brandon and Green Giant Cedars

Beyond the classics, several lesser used cedar varieties offer excellent hedging performance with slightly different characteristics. Pyramidalis is a narrow, elegant cedar with a rich green colour and a more upright, formal look than Smaragd. Brandon cedar is similar but slightly denser, making it useful in tighter spaces or where strong winter durability is needed.

Green Giant, a hybrid between Western Red Cedar and Japanese Thuja, is prized for its extremely rapid growth. It creates a tall, wide, robust hedge in a short period of time and is suitable for large properties or rural landscapes. These alternatives provide gardeners with options for unique looks and growth habits that still offer reliable performance in our climate.

Taxus (Yew)

Yews are classic hedging plants known for their rich, dark green foliage and long lifespan. In Metro Vancouver, varieties such as HM Eddie, Melford and Stricta are particularly popular. HM Eddie is narrow and upright, making it ideal for tight spaces or tall, elegant hedges. Melford has a more traditional shape and excellent winter hardiness. Stricta is columnar and formal in appearance.

Yews tolerate both shade and sun, and they respond very well to pruning, even if cut back hard. This makes them ideal for architectural hedges, topiary forms and properties seeking a refined, traditional look. They grow more slowly than cedars but reward you with decades of reliable, evergreen structure.

Boxwood

Boxwood remains one of the most loved formal hedging plants. The species Buxus sempervirens provides the classic English garden look, while modern cultivars such as Green Mountain, Green Beauty and Winter Gem offer improved vigour and winter colour retention. Boxwood is ideal for low hedges, knot gardens, pathway borders and foundation plantings.

In the Pacific Northwest, boxwood prefers partial shade to full sun and well drained soil. It grows slowly but trims neatly, making it a perfect plant for crisp geometric shapes or soft rolling borders. With proper care and yearly shaping, a boxwood hedge becomes an elegant, long lasting feature in any garden.

Prunus laurocerasus (English Laurel)

English Laurel is one of the fastest growing broadleaf evergreen hedges available in our region. It produces large, glossy leaves and forms a dense, full screen that provides instant privacy. Because it grows quickly, it can be clipped several times a year to maintain height and shape.

This hedge performs best in full sun to light shade and adapts to a wide range of soils. It is ideal for large boundary hedges, noise reduction and creating strong green backdrops. English Laurel is a powerful choice for homeowners who want privacy and lush evergreen foliage in a short amount of time.

Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel)

Portuguese Laurel is a refined alternative to English Laurel. It has smaller, darker leaves, red new stems and a naturally tidy growth habit. It forms a dense hedge that looks elegant without appearing overpowering, and it tolerates shearing exceptionally well.

In Metro Vancouver, Portuguese Laurel excels in full sun to part shade and handles both dry and moist soils once established. It is perfect for formal and semi formal hedges, front yard privacy screens and gardens where a slightly more polished evergreen is desired.

Ilex crenata Convexa (Japanese Holly)

Japanese Holly is one of the best boxwood alternatives available, especially in areas where boxwood blight or winter bronzing can be a concern. The convexa form has small, glossy leaves and a dense branching structure that mimics the classic boxwood look.

This plant grows well in full sun to light shade and prefers well drained, acidic soil. It trims very cleanly and holds its shape beautifully, making it ideal for low to medium height hedges, foundation plantings and formal borders. Japanese Holly also pairs well with Japanese maples, conifers and woodland garden designs.

Leylandii Cypress

Leylandii is one of the fastest growing hedging plants in the world and creates a tall, thick privacy barrier in a relatively short time. It has fine textured, feathery foliage and a soft green colour that blends well with other evergreens.

Because of its rapid growth, Leylandii is best suited for large properties where a tall hedge is needed. In Metro Vancouver, it performs well in sun or partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Regular pruning is essential to keep it controlled, but when managed properly, Leylandii forms one of the most impressive living walls you can grow.

Tsuga (Hemlock)

Hemlock hedges, especially those grown from our native Western Hemlock, create a soft, fine textured hedge with a natural, flowing appearance. Hemlock is more shade tolerant than many other hedge plants, making it ideal for north facing areas or under larger trees.

With regular trimming, hemlock forms a dense screen that looks lush year round. It thrives in Metro Vancouver’s cool, moist climate and prefers well draining soil. Hemlock is an excellent choice for homeowners seeking a more natural Pacific Northwest look rather than a rigid or formal hedge.